Each show is carefully curated and juried to ensure the best mix of crafts and arts, along with quality and originality. This bi-annual show features over 150 vendors excelling in the world of craft, art and design. Over the course of 11 years, UCU has garnered so much attention that over 16,000 fans swarm to the show over the course of the weekend.

Hundreds of fans are lined up before our doors open to receive our famous swag bags full of goodies from our vendors and lovely sponsors. Not only can you peruse the aisles full of vendors, but there are also hourly crafty book signings and demos to check out. This show is free and fun for the whole family! We look forward to seeing you!

Urban Craft Uprising was started in 2004 to showcase the work of independent crafters, artists and designers — to provide a unique, high quality, hand-crafted alternative to “big box” stores and mass produced goods.

Since its early beginnings at its first holiday show with just 50 crafter booths and overflowing crowds, Urban Craft Uprising now holds the largest indie craft event in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest with its Winter Show. In 2009, Urban Craft Uprising expanded its horizons to include a summer show, which has now also become an annual event, in conjunction with an exclusive wholesale event which allows our vendors to connect directly with wholesale buyers.

Urban Craft Uprising aims to build a local (and beyond) community of artists, crafters and designers by organizing and providing events where indie crafters and artists can connect with their fans. In addition, Urban Craft Uprising promotes other community building activities, including our crafting shows, showcases, classes, events, sponsorships, online presence and other local activities.

Meet The Directors

Kristen Rask opened Schmancy in downtown Seattle in 2004. She started curating an annual show titled Plush You! at the shop that soon got international recognition. In its second year she received a book deal with f+w publishing to publish Plush You!: Loveable Misfits to Sew and Stuff. Since then she has come out with two more books; Creature Crochet (currently in its second reprint with Barnes & Noble) and Button and Stitch: super cute ways to use your button stash (f+w publishing). This fall Yummy Crochet will be released also with Barnes & Noble.

In 2008 Kristen began working with Urban Craft Uprising as the Director of PR and Marketing. In 2010 she took over the role of Sponsorship Coordinator, and this winter she became the President.

Crafting and the world of craft is very near and dear to her heart. She has been a crafter since she can remember and started her first “crafting business” (where she can remember actually making money) in the summer after 5th grade. She has played with all sorts of mediums but is trying to concentrate on sewing at this point in time. Being a part of UCU is a dream come true.

Lindsey Ross began working with the Urban Craft Uprising as President in the summer of 2006, right before UCU’s first show at the Seattle Center. In the summer of 2008, she stepped down from this role, taking on her current position as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations for the biannual show.

She is also the proud owner of Yarnia, Portland’s only DIY yarn store! After eight years of fervent knitting, she decided to open this one-of-a-kind yarn shop in Southeast Portland, as a creative and affordable way for knitters and crocheters alike to achieve exactly the yarn they want for a project.

The fusion of crafting, getting to work with creative people, and getting to run not one but two unique local businesses is pretty much all she could ask for. Living in Portland, she spends her free time biking, thrift shopping, crocheting, running in the rain, enjoying local microbrews with friends, camping, trying to keep up on her food blog, experimenting with fermentation in all its forms, knitting, and taking a minute to appreciate a really good cup of coffee.

Board Member

Moxie is an artist, fiber pusher, and human being. She enjoys conceptual art, hi-jinx and/or shenanigans, and making wool do impossible things.

With obsessive attention to detail and a rare talent for interpersonal communication, Moxie was President and Director of Vendor Relations for Urban Craft Uprising for three years. In 2010, she decided to dedicate more of her time to her art, but continues on with UCU as Director of Smart-Aleck Remarks, and our much loved consigliere.

Needle felting is Moxie’s primary medium and it’s pretty much all she ever wants to do. Her art has been shown in several books as well as galleries in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles and more. Moxie spent 2012 creating her first large all-wool installation for the Bellevue Arts Museum. She’s very proud, and still very tired.

Moxie’s book, I Felt Awesome, was published by f+w in 2010. In addition to her book and her online tutorials, she’s taught thousands of people to needle felt in dozens of settings, including the Frye Art Museum, The Exploratorium in San Francisco, and the Maker Faire Bay Area. She also runs her own small business, Hi-Fiber Kits, bringing felting and spinning supplies to the people.

Moxie spends what free time she has not cleaning up after herself and writing quirky paragraphs about herself in the third person. She lives in Seattle with her unbelievably patient husband and the two best cats in the known universe.

Texture

Luna Bars

Beautiful Briny Sea

Chinook Book

Volunteer at UCU!

Interested in volunteering with Urban Craft Uprising? Email Kristen for more info about available shifts, what we're looking for, and all the great perks you'll get for helping us make UCU the best show ever!